WHY don’t we see more dogs out and about nowadays? There was a time when you would see quite a few dogs in the street – either on their owners’ leads – or just roaming about on their own. So where have they gone?

This question only occurred to me when I came across an old superstition concerning ambulances. Now I can almost hear you thinking what’s he on about? What have dogs got to do with ambulances?

Well, it all depends on whether you are superstitious or not? One superstition has it that when you see an ambulance on the road – you should grab hold of your collar. And here’s the canine connection, you can only release your hold on your collar after you’ve seen a dog in the street.

Another version has it that, to evade bad luck, you must pinch your nose or hold your breath – until you see a dog! And not just any old dog, it has to be either black or brown? With present day public dog scarcity, you could wait a long time.

Regular readers will probably know that I have an interest in old superstitions. That doesn’t mean I necessarily believe any of them. My wife, when she reads these last few words, will burst into disbelieving laughter.

Well, I don’t believe in most superstitions – just a few of them. Are you in any way superstitious? I bet you are – if only a little!

We live in a modern, scientific age – so why do we cling on to any of these ancient beliefs and superstitions? Do any of them have any relevance to our lives today? I don’t know the answer to this one, but I now know that many of the old time beliefs I do subscribe to come from my early years and, I suspect – so do many of yours.

Do you get up in the morning and burst into song? I don’t and never have. It was drummed into me that it was unlucky. I never knew what this bad luck was supposed to consist of, because I never did exercised my vocal chords before I’d finished my cornflakes. I came across the small cautionary saying which sums up this superstition: “Sing before breakfast – and cry before dinner”. And what about trimming your fingernails on a Friday? Or I never have done – nor on a Sunday. This belief is covered by a short rhyme: “Better a man had never been born, than to have his nails on Friday shorn” I suspect that, so far, we haven’t got any superstitions which cover nail enamelling. Unless, of course, you know any different?

So do you ever opening your umbrella indoors? Do you put shoes on your dining, or any other, table? And what about dropping items of cutlery? Drop a knife – and a man will call; drop a fork and a woman will be ringing your doorbell. Both of these can be picked up by the person who dropped them. When it comes to spoons, it’s a trifle more complicated – a spoon can only be picked up by another person. I suppose it’s a bit like picking up a glove that someone has inadvertently dropped.

It does help to be aware of other peoples’ superstitions. I can remember, many years ago, having lunch in a crowded café. I was obliged to share a table with an elderly female. It was one of those silent lunches. She didn’t speak a word and neither did I.

During the meal she indicated that she would like to use the salt, which was on my side of the table. I picked up the saltcellar and made to pass it to her. She waved it away, indicating that I should put it down in front of her. She salted her food and told me that it was extremely unlucky to hand her the salt. She then recited these few words: “Hand me salt – and hand me sorrow.”

I remember these words today and, do you know, I have never handed salt to any fellow diner since that day – some 50 or more years ago. And, more peculiarly, when asking for salt to be passed to me, I require that it be placed in front of me on the table. Why? After all this time!It just shows how superstitions, however illogical, can take hold.